The probe into the August 4 Beirut Port Explosion will resume this week after it was halted for almost two months, leading to nowhere.
According to NNA, Judge Fadi Sawan has set dates for the interrogation of a number of defendants and witnesses this week and next week.
He is reportedly slated to interrogate, and listen to the testimony of, former army commander Jean Kahwaji on Thursday.
Kahwaji served as the Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces from 2008 to 2017, during which nearly 3,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate rested in the Beirut Port until it deplorably detonated, killing over 200 and injuring thousands 6 months ago.
The army command had been informed of the dangerous material stored in the port and advised on possible solutions, including exporting it out of Lebanon at the expense of the shipowner who had brought it.
Last month, Interpol issued a red notice for the owner and captain of the ship that brought the ammonium nitrate to Beirut.
Additionally, Lebanon is currently trying to get hold of a Portuguese trader linked to the deadly ammonium nitrate shipment brought to the port.
Last week, riot police attacked the families of Beirut blast victims who were holding a sit-in outside of Judge Sawan’s house demanding he carries on with the investigation and calling for justice.
That being said, 6 months after the blast, no Lebanese political official has been held responsible for what happened at the blast.
Politicians summoned over the Beirut blast, including caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab, have yet not complied with Judge Sawan and are simply escaping accountability.
